US 5,334,673 · Granted 1994-08-02
The Polyurethane Recipe That Revolutionized Golf Ball Performance
A golf ball made from a special polyurethane plastic that's mixed with slow-acting chemical hardeners to create a ball with better durability and performance. Instead of using traditional materials, this patent describes a precise recipe of chemicals that bond together to make a tougher, more resilient golf ball that performs consistently on the course.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a golf ball constructed specifically from a polyurethane prepolymer combined with slow-reacting polyamine curing agents and/or difunctional glycols—including named compounds like 3,5-dimethylthio-2,4-toluenediamine, various glycols, and their mixtures. What's protected here is the particular chemical formulation and the method of combining these materials to create a golf ball with defined properties, preventing competitors from making golf balls using this exact same chemical recipe and curing process.
Why it matters
Golf ball construction was historically dominated by solid or multi-layer rubber and synthetic materials. This patent locked down a proprietary polyurethane formulation that offered advantages in durability, consistency, and performance characteristics. By securing this specific chemical recipe, Acushnet (maker of Titleist golf balls) protected a core manufacturing innovation that could distinguish its products in a competitive market where even minor improvements in ball behavior are valued by serious golfers.
Real-world use
Every Titleist or similar premium golf ball manufactured using this polyurethane chemistry represents an encounter with this patent—from recreational golfers on public courses to professionals competing in tournaments worldwide.
Original USPTO abstract
The golf ball is made from a composition of a polyurethane prepolymer and a slow-reacting polyamine curing agent and/or a difunctional glycol. The slow-reacting polyamine curing agents and difunctional glycols are 3,5-dimethylthio-2,4-toluenediamine; 3,5-dimethylthio-2,6-toluenediamine; N,N'-dialkyldiamino diphenyl methane; trimethyleneglycol-di-p-aminobenzoate; polytetramethyleneoxide-di-p-aminobenzoate; 1,4-butanediol; 2,3-butanediol; 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-butanediol; ethylene glycol; and mixtures thereof.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 5,334,673
- Filing date
- 1991-12-24
- Grant date
- 1994-08-02
- Assignee
- Acushnet Co.
- Inventor(s)
- WU; SHENSHEN
- CPC class
- C08G18/10
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